Surname Shibata - Meaning and Origin
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Shibata: What does the surname Shibata mean?
The last name Shibata is a Japanese surname. It is believed to have originated as a toponymic name, derived from the location in which people with the name lived. The town of Shibata was once located in what is now part of the city of Ueda in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.
Due to Japan’s complex system of using Chinese characters for its written language, the origin of the Shibata surname is not known with absolute certainty. However, it is thought to come from the root words ‘Shiba’, meaning ‘brushwood’, and ‘Tō’, which means ‘east’. Together, these two words could be interpreted to mean ‘brushwood east’ and could provide insight into the natural environment of the birthplace of the Shibata family.
The Shibata surname is shared by many Japanese people. As of 2017, it was the 303rd most popular surname in Japan, and there were almost 40,000 people with the last name Shibata living in the country. It has also spread to other countries, particularly those with high populations of Japanese emigrants, such as the United States and Brazil.
With its interesting history and worldwide presence, the last name Shibata is an integral part of both Japanese and global culture.
Order DNA origin analysisShibata: Where does the name Shibata come from?
The last name Shibata is most common today in Japan, although there are some individuals of this family name elsewhere in the world. In Japan, it is especially common in the Kansai region which includes the cities of Osaka, Kobe, and Kyōto. According to the latest census data, the Shibata family name is the 412th most common Japanese family name and there are an estimated 11,640 people in Japan living with the last name.
Outside of Japan, Shibatas are most common in the United States. According to the latest United States census data, there are 229 people in the United States with the last name Shibata. Other countries with a significant Shibata population include Brazil, where 118 people are reported to have the family name, Mexico, where 63 are registered, and the United Kingdom where there are 68 reported Shibatas.
The Shibata family name is derived from the ancient should Shibata Nagamasa, a powerful military leader who lived during the Sengoku period (15th to 16th centuries) in Japan's history. Descendants of the Shibata family, who were located in the Sado Province of Japan, adopted the family name when the island was vacated during the Meiji Restoration. Today, the Shibata family name still enjoys a strong presence in Japan and other countries around the world.
Variations of the surname Shibata
The surname Shibata can be spelled in different ways such as Shibahata, Shiabata, and Shibatta. Each of these spellings are derived from a Japanese surname which ultimately originates from a place-name. The name itself is derived from a site in Niigata prefecture of central Japan meaning "horn gap".
It is believed that people surnamed Shibata are distant relatives of the Samurai, a class of hereditary warriors from feudal Japan. One of the oldest families with this surname is believed to have descended from the line of Fujiwara family who were responsible for the elite education and refinement of the imperial court in ancient times.
Variant spellings and surnames of the same origin could also include Shibuchi, Shiba, Shibayama, Shibakawa, Shibanuma, Shibamoto, and Shibayashi. These variant spellings and surnames are common throughout Japan and can all be traced back to the same origin of the Shibata surname.
The Shibata surname is not only found in Japan but is also present in several other Asian countries like China, the Philippines, Korea and Taiwan. In some cases, the spelling may slightly change to these countries' local languages, for example, in Korea and ChinaShibata is often spelled as Shi-ba-da and in the Philippines, it is spelled as Sibata.
In the western world, too, many people with the Shibata surname now have adopted the western spelling of the name and can be found across the United States, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. They have either immigrated to these countries in search of better lives, or their ancestors may have previously migrated there. In the western world, the spelling of this surname is often modified to make it easier to pronounce. Common examples of these westernized spellings include Shibata, Szibata, Shibeata, Shebata, Shavada, Shobata, and Shevata.
Famous people with the name Shibata
- Yuki Shibata: Japanese television personality known for his role in the variety show Mecha-Mecha Iketeru!.
- Aki Shibata: Japanese voice actress known for roles in animated films such as Kiki's Delivery Service and a variety of video games including Fate/Grand Order.
- Ryoichi Shibata: Japanese judoka who is a two-time world champion and has won numerous awards on the international level.
- Yousuke Shibata: former Japanese professional baseball player who played for various teams in the Japan Central League, Pacific League and Korean League.
- Takashi Shibata: Japanese film director and screenwriter who has directed films such as House of Mud and Tako no Machi Monogatari.
- Masahiro Shibata: Japanese actor, voice actor, narrator and singer known for roles in films such as Ranma ½ and voice roles in video games such as the Ace Attorney series.
- Nanae Shibata: Japanese manga artist known for her work on the comedic sci-fi series SKET Dance.
- Kaoru Shibata: Japanese dancer and choreographer who has worked on stage, television and film.
- Daijiro Shibata: Japanese film director and screenwriter known for documentaries such as Mother Nature and television series such as Gloomy Salad Days.
- Kôichi Shibata: Japanese actor known for his roles in films such as Death Note and television series such as Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales.